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Diabetes exacerbates neuronal injury induced by hyperglycemia mediated oxidative damage and mitochondrial dysfunction. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of curcuminoids, polyphenols of Curcuma longa (L.) on oxidative stress and mitochondrial impairment in the brain of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. A marked increase in lipid peroxidation and nitrite levels with simultaneous decrease in endogenous antioxidant marker enzymes was observed in the diabetic rat brain, which was restored to normal levels on curcuminoids treatment. Down-regulation of mitochondrial complex I and IV activity caused by STZ induction was also up-regulated on oral administration of curcuminoids. Moreover, curcuminoids administration profoundly elevated the ATP level, which was earlier reduced in the diabetic brain. These results suggest that curcuminoids exhibit a protective effect by accelerating antioxidant defense mechanisms and attenuating mitochondrial dysfunction in the brain of diabetic rats. Curcuminoids thus may be used as a promising therapeutic agent in preventing and/or delaying the progression of diabetic complications in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicteres isora, a tall shrub common in central and western India is an effective antidote to snake bite and is also used for various intestinal disorders. The potential efficacy for hepatocellular regeneration of the ethanolic extract of Helicteres isora L. at doses of 150 and 250 mg/kg was investigated in CCl4-induced hepatic damage in rats for 21 days. Significant hepatoprotective effects were obtained against toxin induced liver damage as evident from assessed biochemical markers such as acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), total protein, and oxidative stress parameters as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), calalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in liver, kidney and plasma. The results revealed that at the dose of 250 mg/kg. Helicteres isora L. had a hepatocurative potential after CCl4 intoxication in rats and provided a scientific rationale for the traditional use of this plant in the management of liver diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]